Tech & Safety

Notice to Owners, Drivers and Crews

First of all welcome from LODBRS Safety and Tech. ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ). As we start the 2013 season, I will remind everyone that your input as to the rules and any corrections or additions, are needed and welcome.

NOTICE TO PWC2 RACERS:

PWC Age Requirement Lowered

The LODBRS Rules Committee has lowered the minimum age requirement, for PWC 2, from 14 to 13 years of age.  Please refer to Rule 7.3.3 (pg 28), in the 2013 rule book for details. Please note that riders under the age 16 are required to have a state approved boaters safety course, if available in their state.

Rule Changes for 2013:
Go to the Tech & Safety page for a quick reference of this years rule changes.

All:
Check your Driver’s License / Physical expiration date, capsule dunk date and safety equipment recertification dates: Jackets, Blower Restraints, Seat Belts, (if due, you might consider a 6/7 point system) and Helmets. Snell 2000 helmets are no longer approved. Please note that all drivers and boats participating in any LODBRS, ADBA, CDBA, KDBA, SDBA or SLDBA event, regardless if the association you belong to is affiliated with LODBRS or not, will have to be in compliance with all the rules contained in the 2013 LODBRS Rulebook.

Capsule Boats:
LODBRS will continue Capsule Recertification Program this season, along with sonic testing of cages. If you don’t have, or are missing a SFI sticker, let us know, and we will assist you in getting them.

“J” type latches are no longer approved. They need to be replaced with a “striker” type system. A water detection switch, which may or may not turn on bilge pump, located inside the capsule, in plain sight of the driver, is now required. Knee and Shin protectors are required in all Capsule boats.

Also: check your Capsule floatation: 12”x12”x1” = 4.5 lbs buoyancy. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or your Association Safety/Tech if you have questions.

Air Supply:
Check the expiration dates on your air bottle(s) - ‘VIP’ (visual inspection – due annually) and ‘DOT’ (hydrostatic insp. – due every five (5) years). Stage one (tank) and stage two (helmet) systems need to be inspected/rebuilt by a dive shop or mfg., every three years.

Pump Loaders, Props, Prop Shafts:
These need to be dye checked regularly. We experienced failures last year. Not only is your safety at stake but also that of your opponent and the race officials.

There are downloads available on the website www.lucasoildragboats.com for Capsule, Boat and Driver Safety Inspection, and LODBRS Safety Inspection Sheet.

Generator and RV Generator Exhaust:
As our sport grows, so does the amount of RV’s and use of aux. generators. With more racers and crews spending the night in the pits, it is time to address carbon monoxide emissions .It is recommended that the use of venturi type exhaust stacks be used. These can be purchased at RV Stores, or constructed. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for plans.

Open Boat Kill Switch Lanyards:
The Lanyard should activate the kill switch anytime the driver’s posterior travels more than 18” from the sitting/ driving position. Check your lanyard and be aware that a ‘coiled type’ lanyard can stretch further than 18”, allowing the driver to be further in harms way.

Rule Changes for 2013:

Rule 2.0 - Membership

2.1.1 - Racing - Boat Owners and/or Drivers:

All owners and all drivers of each boat must be fully paid annual racing members. An owner of multiple boats will be required to have only one owners racing membership. Also, a husband and wife who jointly own a race boat will be required to have only one owners racing membership.

Housekeeping

3.1 - Professional Classes

All Professional Class boats must use a drivers capsule, manufactured by a SFI Certified Manufacturer

• TOP FUEL HYDRO 1000 ft-dual prop only
• TOP ALCOHOL HYDRO 1000 ft
• TOP ALCOHOL FLAT 1000 ft
• PRO MODIFIED 7.00 – 7.99

Boats not conforming to the above classes will be assigned a class, once proving class capability according to Rule 7.4.4

Clarification

3.1.1a Engines - All blown or supercharged engines, as well as un-blown fuel engines may not exceed 565 cubic inches, except in Pro Modified. No multiple engines are allowed in any class. TFH limited to 500 cu. in.

Allowing turbochargers in Top Alcohol Hydro

3.1.1b Blowers/Superchargers – Hi-Helix or Helix blowers are allowed in all professional classes. In addition, turbochargers, centrifugal and screw type blowers are allowed in the TAH and PM classes. Variable and multi speed blowers are not allowed.

Allowing turbocharges and centrifugal blowers in Top Alcohol and Pro Mod.

3.1.1c Fuel - Top Fuel Hydro may utilize only nitro-methane (sixty five [65%] minimum) and alcohol (pure methanol). All alcohol classes must use only pure methanol. Blown Jets may utilize gasoline, alcohol (pure methanol), or a maximum of fifty percent (50%) nitro-methane. Eighty percent (80%) may be used with an un-blown top alcohol hydro (TAH) with a single propeller driven boat and ninety percent (90%) with a dual propeller driven boat. See Rule Four - “Racing Fuel” for further information.

Easing up fuel restrictions on un-blown alcohol hydro

3.1.1d Fuel Injection - Electronic or electrically controlled fuel systems designed to automatically sense temperature, pressure, fuel/air mixtures and instantly adjust the fuel flow shall not be permitted on any engine except Pro Mod.

Housekeeping

3.3 - Bracket Class (Dial-in)

RR RIVER RACER 12:00+

PWC1 Personal Water Craft1 must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

PWC2 Personal Water Craft2 must be fourteen (14) years of age with state approved boaters safety course, or sixteen (16) years of age without state approved boaters safety course. Also cannot be any older than seventeen (17) years of age.

Housekeeping

3.4 - Optional Classes

Gambler and Second Chance: Will be restricted to open boats and PWC only. Boats must stay within .30 sec of the class for which the driver is licensed and/or registered. (100 mph+ requires torso type life jacket and SFI/Snell Helmet). PWC and boats will run separately.        

Pro Outlaw: Class is for first (1) round eliminated capsule boat’s and capsule boats that do not confirm to the classes listed in rule 3.1, and cannot prove capability as per rule 7.4.4. This is a 5.50 second, 1000 foot bracket class.

All optional classes will be offered if time allows and at the discretion of the race director and promoter.

Housekeeping

7.3.3 - Age Requirement

All drivers in the Professional and Sportsman classes must have attained a minimum age of eighteen (18) years in order to apply for and be granted a Competition Drivers License. Drivers in the RR, SE and ME classes are not required to have a Competition Drivers License, but they must have attained a minimum age of sixteen (16) years. PWC1 must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age. PWC2 must be a minimum of fourteen (14) years of age with a state approved boaters safety course, and sixteen (16) years of age without a state approved boaters safety course. Maximum age is seventeen (17) years of age.

Housekeeping

7.7 - Eliminations

7.7.1 - Pairingsc - Pairing for eliminations shall be based upon the lowest legitimate qualifying E.T. for each boat. Boats will be placed on the standard ladder system according to their respective E.T’.s and the number of boats in their class. If, in any E.T. format class, none of the qualifying E.T.s fall within the E.T. range of the class in which the boat was registered, but the owner and/or driver has elected to remain in that class, the boat will be considered the slow boat in the class and paired for eliminations accordingly. Should there be more than one boat in any class which has no qualifying E.T.s within the E.T. bracket, said boats will be assigned qualifying positions below those boats that legitimately qualified for the class. These boats will be assigned qualifying positions beginning with the boat which broke out of the E.T. bracket by the least amount, followed by all other boats which broke out in ascending order of the breakout amount. In turn, they will be followed by the boat that failed to prove capability by the least amount, followed by all other boats that failed to prove capability in ascending order of the failure to prove amount. During qualifying, any boat that crashes or is damaged beyond apparent repair shall not be paired for eliminations. This decision will be at the discretion of the Sanction Supervisor. The damage will be verified by the Safety Inspector and the owner and/or driver involved so notified of their elimination from the racing program. If the boat is subsequently repaired, the Safety Inspector must be notified at least sixty (60) minutes prior to the commencement of eliminations and the boat re-inspected in order to ascertain its ability to compete in eliminations. If this is accomplished, the class will be re-paired for eliminations. When a boat declares broke after the pairings have been posted, if there are no alternate boat(s) for that class, the opponent, shall be awarded a legal single. No other re-pairing or class changes will take place on the day of eliminations unless the class was incorrectly paired due to an official error or a boat was allowed to register for competition on the day of eliminations. Pairing ladders are based upon the number of qualified participants in each class and are included on the following pages. Bye runs are predetermined in a ladder and are shown in their proper locations within each of the ladders.

Increasing time required to inform officials of repairs completed in order to be paired.

7.7.6a - Ramp Call / Launch

If there are more boats than the allowed “number of qualifiers”(rule 7.6.2) allowed in a class, then the alternate boat(s) shall be notified and report to the launch ramp when the class is called for the first round of eliminations. The alternate boat(s) will be the first boat next in line in the qualifying order for that class.

Housekeeping

7.9.4 - Starting / Timing System Malfunction

7.9.4a –Single lane eliminations; if one lane becomes unusable, the Race Director may opt to run single lane eliminations. The sum of reaction time plus elapsed time shall determine the round winner, class runner up, and subsequent placements. The competitor with the lowest elapsed time, or closest to index will have the option of running first or second against their competitor.

Enabling the option to complete a race with single lane if needed.

8.1.3 Clutch and Bell Housing – Refer to rule 10.22

Housekeeping                                                                        

8.3.4 -Screw Type - Allowed only on gasoline or alcohol motors (not allowed in Top Alcohol Flat or TFH). Maximum case length 16 inches; maximum case width 16 inches; minimum case and front plate thickness .250 inches; minimum rear plate thickness .300 inches. Screw superchargers with a rotor diameter in excess of eight and one half (8.5) inches will be limited to a maximum overdrive of sixty percent (60%); those with a rotor diameter of eight and one half (8.5) inches or less will be limited to a maximum overdrive of one hundred twenty-five percent (125%). Under no circumstances may a screw type supercharger overdrive exceed the manufacturer’s SFI test maximum. A supercharger burst panel is required in addition to a manifold burst panel. Overdrive limits, as determined appropriate by the LUCAS OIL DRAG BOAT RACING SERIES (based upon performance criteria) are subject to adjustment at any time

Removed SFI inspection requirement on Screw Chargers

8.3.5 -Aluminum manifold mount studs are required with all superchargers.

Housekeeping

8.3.7 -Top Alcohol Hydro Supercharger:  

PSI “C-case” 1.87 single propeller                    

PSI “C-case” 2.25 dual propeller                        

PSI “D-case” 2.06 single/dual propeller  

Whipple 1.60 single/dual propeller

Easing blower restrictions on Top Alcohol Hydro

8.9 - Boat Number/Class Designator

Each boat number will also include a letter assigned to each member’s home association. The letter will be placed after the number, and will be a minimum of one and one half (1 ½) inches tall and be of the same color as the boat number

ADBA-A                                                                                                                                                                           CDBA-C                                                                                                                                                                           KDBA-K                                                                                                                                                         SDBA-S                                                                                                                                      SLDBA-SL                                                                                                                                                                            LUCAS-L

Alleviating duplicate boat number issues                                                                             

8.20 - Fuel Shut-Off Valve

All fuel injected boats must have a quick action push/pull fuel shut-off valve, The valve control must be in front of and within easy reach of the driver. If the valve control is installed within a capsule, see Capsules / Breakaways for restrictions on the control mechanism. The valve itself must be installed in the fuel line between the main fuel pump and the fuel injectors.

Houskeeping.

8.31 - Radio Receiver

All drivers must have ‘a listen only’ radio receiver, that tunes into the rescue, starter, and tower race control frequency.

Including PWC in radio requirement

9.4 - Neck Collar/Hans Type Device

Capsule boat drivers must wear, while on the water, a commercially manufactured foam neck collar and/or Hans type device designed for racing. Said collar must meet “SFI 3.3” specification. Either a 360 degree donut type or a horseshoe type may be used. Modification according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to fit a driver’s helmet and neck/shoulder spacing is permitted. The collar must be worn in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Hans type device may substitute for a neck collar. PWC will be required to wear a neck collar or helmet restraints, unless the driver is wearing a racing type life jacket, helmet restraints will then be required.

Housekeeping.

9.6 - Visual Aid

At the time of the driver’s equipment inspection, the driver must produce either his state driver’s license or Competition Drivers License in order to verify whether or not visual aid is needed to drive. If visual aid is necessary, the driver’s Competition Drivers License as well as his medical tag should so indicate. The driver must wear his proper visual aid at all times while on the water.

Housekeeping, removed last sentence.

9.9 - Life Jacket/Non-Capsule

9.9.1- All drivers in non-capsule boats must wear, while on the water, an approved life jacket. Capsule type life jacket suits are not allowed in open boats.

Clarification.

9.11 - Knee and Shin Protectors

All capsule boat drivers are required to wear knee and shin protectors. Baseball or Moto-cross protectors must be worn, and either sewn in the drivers suit, or worn externally.

New.

10.5 - Alignment Pins

All capsule roll cage lids shall have a minimum of four (4) alignment pins (2 per side), as indicated in Appendix L (Kasse capsules excepted). On older capsules in lieu of forward pins, 4130 steel rods, ½” minimum dia., or 4130 steel plates, minimum 1” wide X 3/16” thick, with a length that equals the outside diameter measurement of the cage upper rail bar plus the outside diameter of the lower lid tube. The rod/plate should be mounted on or near the forward cluster on the cage. A reinforcement bar, going from the lid rialto the hinge assembly is also accepted, as long as the design will inhibit the lower lid rail from “springing inwards” during a barrel roll/side impact.

Expanded options.

Capsule Re-certification Program

Rule 10.2 Capsules – SFI 36.1 and 36.2 specs call for the capsule shell and windshield to be re-certified every two years. This re-certification shall be done by the original manufacturer, as long as they are still a SFI certified capsule manufacturer.

In order to comply with this long ignored program, LODBRS will be available to re-certify capsules and windshields under the following conditions:

The manufacturer is no longer in business
The manufacturer is no longer SFI certified
The manufacturer is un willing to re-certify capsules and windshields

LODBRS will charge a fee of $60.00, to cover cost of stickers.

The following manufacturers are currently SFI certified:

• Jim Dunn – Bullet Fiberglass (559) 822-2011

Rule 10.26 Roll Cage – cages must be sonic tested every three years.

LODBRS will do sonic testing at, no charge, at all National events. Sonic testing can be done by qualified sonic testing inspectors (NHRA, NASCAR, LODBRS, SFI) or Sanctioning Association. Contact tech@lucasoildragboats or your Association for further info.

Note: The individual Drag Boat Associations may, after approval from SFI, offer to do capsule re-certification. Contact your association for details.

Questions? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.